Origin of the name

The name “cheetah” comes from a language spoken in northern India and Pakistan and it means variegated or “the spotted one” referring to the irregular dots that cover the cheetah fur. The scientific name Acinonyx jubatus is also related with the appearance of the cheetah, whereby acinonyx comes from the Greek and refers to the semi-retractable (immobile) claws and jubatus comes from the Latin and means crested as attribute for to its mane or long hair on the neck. Cheetahs have small rounded ears painted in black on the backside and two black lines running from their eyes down to the mouth like tear-streaks. Cheetahs have approximately 2,000 black spots on their light fur and each individual has a characteristic and unique pattern that allows to tell it apart from all the other cheetahs.